About Uraga Harsu Haro lot #3 Natural
Uraga Harsu Haro Natural comes from Haro Wachu kebele in the Uraga district of Guji, within Ethiopia’s Oromia region. Oromia is the largest region in the country, home to more than 30 million people. Guji is one of Ethiopia’s most historic coffee-growing areas. The Harsu Haro Muda kebele is remote and particularly difficult to access during the rainy season.
Farms in this area are located between 30 and 45 minutes from the central collection point, connected by dirt roads that become muddy and hazardous during heavy rains. Local producers rely on horses, mules, or donkeys to transport their coffee.
Rainy seasons in the region used to last only a few months each year, but due to climate change, rainfall now persists through nearly the entire year. This shift makes daily work more difficult, especially during the harvest season from December to February. Producers use brief periods of sunshine to harvest and transport as much coffee as possible, but such days are becoming increasingly rare.
Farmers in the area intercrop their coffee plants with false banana trees, maize, Korch, Wanza, and Sesa to provide shade. The choice of shade tree depends on the age and specific needs of the coffee plants. The region’s soil is a fertile sandy loam with excellent water retention and drainage. With careful planting, it is self-sustaining and does not require added fertilizer to produce high-quality coffee. The local washing station receives cherries from more than 360 producers in the area.
The farmers here belong to the Oromo people and speak Oromiffa. They live a quiet life centered around coffee farming and maintain several ancestral customs. Many families face challenges related to limited access to electricity and clean drinking water. Children typically do not start school until around age nine, as the nearest schools are located far from home. As a result, most young people in the area grow up working in agriculture, cultivating coffee, potatoes, maize, or false banana trees on their family’s or neighbors’ land.
Despite these challenges, the producers of Harsu Haro Muda are celebrated in the specialty coffee world for their dedication, traditional knowledge, and exceptional coffee quality.
